Paul Eaton’s Post

This is a story about higher education, but it may well be about the workplace, if "More than half of American college students now report depression, anxiety or seriously considering suicide." The next generation (or maybe the current one) of workers will have more mental health issues, and the workplace will ignore that to its peril. Does your place of work support mental health challenges of its employees? How does it do so? "It is clear by now that the mental-health crisis has changed academia forever: its structures, its culture and the function it is expected to perform in American society. More than half of American college students now report depression, anxiety or seriously considering suicide. This is a problem that reaches across geography, race, class, identity, institutional resources or prestige and academic ability. Almost one in four Americans in college considered dropping out in the last year because of their mental health. Adjusting pedagogy to account for this scale of illness and, in some cases, disability, is the new frontier of postsecondary education."

Oklahoma City Community College believes in the power of offering discreet, flexible, and diverse care through online therapy to enhance student well-being. Learn how they're working with BetterMynd to cultivate supportive environments and implement a philosophy of care tailored to each student’s needs, without the financial waste that often comes with unpredictable utilization of online counseling services. "BetterMynd’s flexible model allows us to allocate therapy sessions based on individual student needs without worrying about financial waste or unused resources. This flexibility is crucial for accommodating the unpredictable nature of mental health demands across the student population." - Chris M. Snoddy, Associate Vice President, Student Success "We have to prepare for the whole campus....We're having a conversation, whether it's in a hallway or in in a board meeting with our Vice President, Associate Vice Presidents and Academic Affair leaders. We have to be in front of campus leaders and partner with faculty leaders [to ensure our counseling services are accessible and utilized by students] "Our partnership with BetterMynd has allowed us to extend our mental health support beyond traditional boundaries, ensuring every student, whether on-campus or online, has access to the care they need." - Kevin Eddings, Director, Student Accessibility and Support 🔗 https://lnkd.in/epWFpwHD

Recent findings from the Healthy Minds Study, co-led by Boston University’s Sarah Lipson, an associate professor at the Boston University School of Public Health and principal investigator, reveal a promising trend: for the second consecutive year, mental health among college students has improved. This comprehensive study, which surveyed over 100,000 U.S. college students, shows a decrease in symptoms of #depression, #anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Notably, the proportion of undergraduates experiencing moderate to severe depression symptoms dropped from 44% in 2022 to 38% this year. Furthermore, an increasing number of young people are actively seeking mental health support, highlighting a shift towards greater awareness and care. While these results are encouraging, Lipson emphasizes caution in interpreting them as a definitive trend. She notes the importance of monitoring ongoing developments, especially considering potential stressors such as upcoming elections. The Healthy Minds Network, which includes researchers from UCLA, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University, continues to evaluate the factors contributing to these improvements, including enhanced social connections and a #publichealth approach to student mental health implemented by many colleges. The study not only tracks the prevalence of mental illness but also assesses students' overall well-being, revealing that while positive changes are occurring, there is still significant work to be done. Learn more ➡️ http://spr.ly/6007Up11U

Mental health challenges among college students in Toronto are reaching alarming levels. According to a report by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), over 65% of college students in the city have experienced overwhelming anxiety at some point during their studies. This statistic reflects a pressing issue that needs immediate attention. One student's story, featured in a recent article by The Local, highlights the daily struggles faced by many. Balancing academic pressure, part-time jobs, and the high cost of living in Toronto, students often find themselves on the brink of burnout. The lack of accessible mental health resources on campus exacerbates this problem, leaving many to cope in silence. This issue is not just a personal struggle for those affected but a community-wide concern. When students' mental health suffers, it impacts their academic performance, social relationships, and future career prospects. This, in turn, affects the broader community by potentially leading to higher dropout rates, increased unemployment, and a less engaged workforce. The CAMH report urges educational institutions to prioritize mental health support, recommending increased funding for counseling services and mental health awareness programs. As a community, we must advocate for these changes to ensure that our students receive the help they need. To read more about the mental health crisis among Toronto’s college students and what can be done to address it, visit the full article here.

This is such an important story regarding mental health on college campuses (it's long: you can listen to the article, too). Two things really struck me: * The institution leaned on its unique and inherent strengths to diagnose and address the mental health crisis on its campus. As a college focused on STEM studies with a problem-based learning model, they brought together groups of faculty to use an empirically-driven approach, rather than making guesses of what needed to be done. This approach worked for them, I think, because it reflected the institution's culture, broadly defined as "how we do things here." * This story highlights the need for EVERYONE on a campus, not just the student counseling center, to be involved in creating an environment of mental health. As a career counselor, I think university career services offices are in a particularly unique position to be a part of this campus-wide "safety net." The line between "career" and "personal" is often a blurry one, and what presents as a career problem if often something more. https://lnkd.in/dYf4jTCF

Surveys reveal that approximately 30% of students consider mental health support to be their top priority when choosing a college. This statistic not only highlights the importance students place on mental well-being but also emphasizes the role colleges must play in meeting these needs. Enter C-MET, the College Mental Health Self-evaluation Tool, a collaborative effort between the Association of Colleges and the Charlie Waller Trust. Designed as an interactive online platform, C-MET enables educational institutions to measure and enhance the mental health support systems for both students and staff. By covering 10 essential domains, it provides a comprehensive framework to assess and track improvements in mental well-being within the college environment. But why C-MET? It's simple yet profoundly impactful. It empowers colleges to self-evaluate, identify areas for improvement, and track progress over time. From leadership and management to curriculum and community engagement, C-MET covers the full scope, ensuring no stone is left unturned in our quest to foster environments where every student and staff member can thrive. As educators and decision-makers, you have a pivotal role in shaping the future of mental health support on campus. The adoption of tools like C-MET is a step forward in acknowledging and addressing the diverse needs of our student populations, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. It's about creating spaces where mental well-being is not just an aspiration but a reality. We urge all educators, administrators, and policy-makers to explore the potential of C-METand other solutions for your institutions. Together, we can pave the way for a future where mental health is not just a concern but a priority, ensuring our colleges are places of growth, support, and success for all. Learn more about C-MET here: https://lnkd.in/gdTfE-4G #MentalHealthAwareness #HigherEducation #C_MET #StudentWellbeing #EducationalInnovation The Charlie Waller Trust Association of Colleges

Congratulations to Birkbeck Students' Union & William B Sarenden for their role in supporting the Student Minds excellent Mental Health Manifesto. Well worth a read. Crucial points on key areas of financial hardship, better healthcare, inclusion, the broader national context of mental health services and prevention, and the need for better government support for Higher Ed: "Our higher education institutions need improved support and investment. The funding model for higher education must be reviewed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector without compromising on staff or student wellbeing. Clarity on the roles and responsibilities of universities and statutory health services must be provided to ensure mental health support is delivered appropriately. Continued political and financial support for the University Mental Health Charter should be given to enable these improvements through a whole-university approach. Higher education should be given greater esteem in recognition of its positive contribution to our economy and society" #mentalhealth #highereducation #election2024 https://lnkd.in/eegmNakw

We've know for almost a decade that 18-25 year olds are the loneliest demographic. For many that overlaps with the their college experience, and risks impairing not just health and well being, but their ability to engage, learn, and develop the life-long social and learning habits, so critical, for their future success. Thanks to Inside Higher Ed for giving my remarkable co-authors me the opportunity to not just "admire the problem" but to offer practical, effective and scalable ways to Make College UnLonely! Please read our report and SHARE!

May is Mental Health Month and the pressures felt by college students have been exacerbated by campus protests and unrest, graduation preparations and job transitions, and the continued uncertainty around the rollout of the federal financial aid form. Students are feeling stressed, anxious, depressed and uncertain. However, there are bright spots where interventions and partnerships hold promise for students. I took a closer look at the ways colleges and universities have become the front lines of mental health support in my latest column in Forbes. ⛰ Colorado is the first state to develop and implement a “Healthy Minds” checklist for its public colleges and universities. Nearly 20 institutions now bear the “Healthy Minds” designation. 👨⚕️ New Jersey has announced an expanded continuation with its partnership with Uwill, a mental health and wellness platform that is reaching a half-million students across 45 participating campuses. 💰 ECMC Foundation has made an investment through the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) to provide intensive technical assistance and grants to NCAN member organizations in six states. 🎬 Three Frame Media has produced a docuseries called “Raising Up,” which tells the stories of student parents, a cohort of learners who often carry the mental health challenges associated with caregiving responsibilities. Additional insights from Ruth Bauer White, president of InsideTrack; Angie Paccione, Ph.D., executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education; Aneesh Sohoni, CEO of One Million Degrees; Brian K. Bridges, New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education; and Alvin McLean, dean of National University’s JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences. Read the full story: https://whitebd.co/3KpVckk #MentalHealthAwareness #Comms4Good #HigherEd

Transitions can be hard in many ways, and those challenges often take a toll on mental health. College transfer students deal with unique challenges that impact their mental health, and this webcast explores the topic and the role of Project College Success. The webcast discusses Project College Success, an exploratory study utilizing Virginia focus groups, project staff expertise, and survey research on the mental health concerns of transfer students from 2—to 4-year institutions of higher education in Virginia. https://lnkd.in/dN4_hKVj The presenters review research on college student mental health, discuss themes identified through focus groups, and share components of a survey that is being administered to transfer students in Virginia. Learning Objectives: ✔️Gain an understanding of the scope of the issue of college student mental health ✔️ Become informed about the support needed for college transfer students with mental health challenges both locally and nationally ✔️ Learn about the themes and voices of students expressed through the project’s focus groups ✔️ Become familiar with a survey that is being administered to Virginia transfer students